Tess Daly: Darcey will be a Strictly success

Tess Daly believes Darcey Bussell's "credibility and expertise" will help make her a success as a 'Strictly Come Dancing' judge

Tess Daly believes Darcey Bussell will be a success as a 'Strictly Come Dancing' judge.

The BBC One programme's presenter thinks the ballerina's "credibility and expertise" will be invaluable on the panel of the show alongside male judges Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli.

She told Digital Spy: "I think she's certainly a credible judge, given that she is a professional dancer.

"She's been at the top for years. She's a bit of a legend in the dance world.

"I think her credibility and expertise will lend itself really well to the panel. Let's just hope she can hold her own with the rest of them - and keep those boys in line. They need a firm hand."

Tess believes Darcey, 43 - who is replacing Alesha Dixon on the judging panel after the singer moved to ITV1's 'Britain's Got Talent' - will be more confident in front of the camera following a spell on Australian TV, and she believes her experience will create a "winning formula".

She added: "She's been living in Australia, and I heard that she has been doing some TV work over there, so I think her confidence will have grown when it comes to talking on camera.